Feds: pattern of police brutality in Ohio force

Published: January 13, 2012 3:16 PM

WARREN, Ohio (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department says it found a pattern of brutality in a northeast Ohio police department and has reached an agreement to end it.

The Justice Department filed a complaint and proposed settlement Friday in federal court involving the Warren police department. The government says it found a pattern of excessive force in the department serving the city of 41,000.

Under the terms of a settlement, the department must develop new policies on the use of force, make sure such cases are documented, track citizen complaints and retrain officers.

The government says it reviewed thousands of pages of documents and interviewed police brass, officers, city leaders and members of the community.

There was no immediate response from Chief Tim Bowers. A message seeking comment was left at his office.